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Snark1234 Author

Level 1

35 points

AirPods losing Bluetooth connection during calls

My AirPods are working just fine with my iPhone 6S during music playback, but I routinely lose my BT connection during phone calls. I have to manually reconnect in the BT settings screen to continue. This happens even when the phone is less than two feet from my AirPods. I've reset the AirPods several times, I've restarted my phone several times, no change. In one case I lost the connection three times in a 10 minute call.

My assumption is that the cell radio is causing interference with the BT radio somehow. I'm on Verizon in case that matters.

I know others have reported this problem. Has anyone found a solution?

David Fry

null-OTHER, iOS 10.2, AirPods

Posted on Jan 6, 2017 10:48 AM

Top-ranking reply

slprescott

Level 1

13 points

Posted on Feb 1, 2017 1:14 PM

Is anyone here using Tile (app + physical tiles) -- which communicate via Bluetooth?

On another forum, a person "turned off Tile completely" and that solved his AirPod droppout problems. I'm curious if anyone here has tried Tile as a possible root-cause?

View in context

70 replies

Oct 23, 2017 2:29 PM in response to slprescott

I was PLAGUED with airpods not working on calls...until I deleted TILE.

My story:

I was having frequent problems getting my airpods to work for a daily morning conference call for my job.

I finally went to apple store and they replaced the airpods with a new pair. It continued happening.

Then I got the new iPhone 8. It *still* continued happening. New airpods, new iPhone, same problem.

Then I deleted the TILE app from my phone (which had been connected to six or so tiles).

The AirPods haven't failed since. It was TILE.

superlum

Level 1

4 points

Nov 21, 2017 12:59 PM in response to Vaughn Sterling

I also use Tile and turned off Bluetooth through the Tile app. I have not deleted it. My AirPods definitely work now with phone calls. Has anyone had any issues with other Bluetooth tracking devices like Trackr or Chipolo?

Dec 4, 2017 7:19 AM in response to Snark1234

I have had this problem since I got the Airpods. It is not just an Airpod issue... the iPhone 7 Plus also has this and after six months I have concluded that I have to turn off my Apple Watch and hope for the best. Even then, I just tried to make a call using the Airpods and the iPhone went to 'iPhone' mode instead of Airpod mode, even after the Airpods had the signature 'ping' that says they are connected. I went to the Airpods on the menu and I could no get any sound from the Airpods. I had to go to speaker phone and at this point I am wondering why even have Bluetooth for phone calls anymore if the iPhone cannot handle it. I also use Bose QC30 Bluetooth headphones and they have the same problem, as does the Bluetooth connection to my 2016 Lexus GX. Apple Support has been wonderful, but this problem has them completely vexed. Starting to see it emerge in other venues and not even the new iOS has relieved the problem. I hope they do something soon... Regards, Jorge

rheird

Level 1

4 points

Feb 8, 2018 8:29 AM in response to slprescott

I had the same issue. Turning Bluetooth off in the Tile app restores bluetooth connections for audio on phone calls. Makes the Tile app pretty useless, but I have it off for now. Still looking for an answer so I can actually use both.

Jan 10, 2017 12:44 PM in response to Kmurt

I don't use Bluetooth in car, but your experience with the AirPods disconnecting during calls (and working fine with music) sounds exactly like the problem I'm experiencing.

Kevin S.

Level 1

94 points

Jan 18, 2017 12:58 PM in response to Snark1234

I also have a 6s and first generation Apple Watch. My wife doesn't have any issue with her Airpods and an iPhone 6, with no apple watch... so maybe that combo is the culprit?

Snark1234 Author

Level 1

35 points

Jan 24, 2017 4:59 PM in response to Kevin S.

That's great to hear, Kevin! I figured that Apple to be aware of this issue by now and working on a fix. I hope it can be done via software alone.

Jan 25, 2017 6:21 AM in response to Kevin S.

Thanks, Kevin,

I just had a similar conversation with Apple support. Out of curiosity, did you re-pair your AppleWatch? If so, did the issues persist?

Jan 27, 2017 11:58 AM in response to Snark1234

Although I haven't done extensive testing, I have not experienced the same issues since I updated to 10.2.1 on my phone and 3.1.3 on my Apple Watch. Hoping the updates took care of it.

w4rmk

Level 1

19 points

Jan 28, 2017 8:34 AM in response to trux1

Since they work near-perfect with my iPhone 7 and nothing but grief with my 6s I don't think there is anything wrong with the hardware.

Kmurt

Level 1

8 points

Feb 1, 2017 7:07 PM in response to w4rmk

Bluetooth on my 6s is flaky. Has anyone tried VOIP on your iPad or computer connected to your AirPods? Or even FaceTime on your phone? I wonder if this is phone app related only?

Feb 6, 2017 10:56 AM in response to Snark1234

I also have this issue. It occurs nearly every time. Also with Facebook messenger calls. Update to iOS 10.2.1 and the firmware update of the AirPods did not fixed my problem.

Feb 6, 2017 10:57 AM in response to mrbofus

Unfortunately it is not!

Feb 17, 2017 4:02 AM in response to Snark1234

Current fix is install iOS 10.3 beta2 . With this version connection is OK.

fai2han

Level 1

9 points

Feb 21, 2017 9:43 AM in response to CZcharlie

Anyone else tried this?

AirPods losing Bluetooth connection during calls